HYMN II

A funeral hymn, and deprecation of Agni the Consumer of corpses

1This is no place to hold thee; mount the Nāda: this lead is thine appointed share. Come hither. Together with Consumption in the cattle, Consumption in our men, go henee, go southward.2With this we chase and banish all consumptive malady and Death, With sinner andamalicious man, with helper and with minister,3Death and Misfortune we expel, Malignity we drive away. O Agni, thou who eatest not the corpse, eat him who hateth us: him whom we hate we send to thee. p. 834If the corpse-eating Agni, or a tiger leaving his lair, hath entered this our homestead, With beans prepared in butter I expel him: far let him go to fires that lie in waters.5When, angered that a man hath died, we in our wrath have banished thee, That deed is easily set right through thee: we kindle thee again.6Again have the Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus, the Brāhman, bringer of good things, O Agni, Again hath Brāhmanaspati disposed thee for long life lasting through a hundred autumns.7I sweep afar, for sacrifice to Fathers, corpse-eating Agni who hath come among us, Although he saw this other, Jātavedas: in loftiest space let him inflame the caldron.8I drive corpse-eating Agni to a distance: sin-laden let him go to Yamas vassals. Here let this other, Jātavedas, carry oblation to the Deities, fore- knowing.9I quickly sweep away corpse-eating Agni, Death, with his bolt potdepriving men of motion. From household fire, well-knowing, I divide him: so in the world of Fathers be his portion.10Corpse-eating Agni, toil-worn, meet for praises, I send away bypaths used by the Fathers. Stay there; keep watch among the Fathers: come not again to us by ways whereon Gods travel.11They being cleansed and bright, the purifiers, kindle Sankasuka for our well-being. Impurity leaveth us and sin departeth: lighted by the good cleanser Agni cleanseth.12Agni the God, the Breaker-up, hath mounted to the heights of heaven. Released from all transgression, he hath from the curse delivered us.13On Agni here, the Breaker-up, we wipe impurities away. Cleansed, fit for sacrifice have we become: may he prolong our lives.14The Breaker-up, the Burster, the Destroyer, and the Silent One, p. 84 These have expelled Consumption far, far off from thee ānd all thou hast,15Corpse-eating Agni we expel, the Agni who bewilders men, Him who is in our horses, in our heroes, cows, and goats, and sheep:16We drive thee forth to other folk, to alien cattle, alien steeds, Thee the corpse-eating Agni, thee the Agni who bewilders men,17Whereon the Deities, whereon men too have purified themselves, Exalting fatness, cleanse thyself, Agni, therein and mount to heaven.18O Agni, kindled and adored, turn not away to visit us. Shine brightly even there in heaven, so that we long may see the Sun.19Wipe all away on lead and reed, on Agni, him who breaketh up, Then on a black-hued sheep, and on a cushion pain that racks. the head,20Wipe off pollution, lay it in the lead and in the black-hued sheep, And headache in the cushion; then be cleansed and fit to sacri- fice.21Go onward, Death, pursue thy special pathway apart from that which Gods are wont to travel. To thee I say it who hast eyes and hearest: great grow the number of these men around us!22Divided from the dead are these, the living: now is our calling on the Gods successful. We have gone forth for dancing and for laughter: may we with brave sons speak to the assembly.23Here I erect this rampart for the living: let none of these, none other, reach this limit. May they survive a hundred lengthened autumns, and may they bury Death beneath this mountain.24Live your full lives and find age delightful, all of you striving, one behind the other. May Tvashtar, maker of fair things, be gracious, and lead your whole lives on to full existence.25As the days follow days in close succession, as with the seasons duly come the seasons. As each successor fails not his foregoer, so constitute the lives of these, Ordainer! p. 8526Gather your strength, my friends; the stream flows stony: acquit yourselves as men, and cross the river. Abandon here the powers that were malignant, and let us cross to powers exempt from sickness.27Rise up erect, cross over, my companions: the stream is stony that flows here before us. Abandon here the powers that were ungracious, and let us cross to powers benign and friendly.28Becoming pure and bright and purifying begin the Vaisvadevi strain for splendour.. May we rejoice, o'erpassing troublous places, with all our heroes through a hundred winters.29On pathways swept by wind, directed upward, passing beyond the lower, on the higher, Thrice seven times have the Rishis, the Departed, forced Mrityu backward with the fastened fetter.30Effecting Mrityu's footstep ye came hither, to further times pro- longing your existence, Seated, drive Mrityu to his proper dwelling: then may we, living, speak to the assembly.31Let these unwidowed dames with goodly husbands adorn them- selves with fragrant balm and unguent, Decked with fair jewels, tearless, sound and healthy, first let the dames go up to where he lieth.32I with oblation separate both classes, and with my prayer dis- part their several portions. I offer food that wastes not to the Fathers, a nd to these men give life of long duration.33That Agni, Fathers! who, himself immortal, hath entered and possessed our mortal bosoms, Even him I grasp and hold the God with me, Let him not hate us, may we never hate him.34When ye have left the household fire, with the Corpse-eater southward go. Do that which is delightful to the Fathers, Brāhmans, and your- selves.35Agni, the banqueter on flesh, not banished, for the eldest son Taketh a double share of wealth and spoileth it with poverty.36What man acquires by plough, by war, all that he wins by toil of hand, p. 86 He loses all if Agni the Carnivorous be not set aside,37Unholy, splendour-reft is he, his sacrifice unfit to eat. Krayād deprives of tilth of cow, of riches him whom he pursues,38Oft as a greedy beggar speaks the mortal who has brought distress, Those whom Carnivorous Agni close at hand runs after and detects.39When a dame's husband dies the house is tangled fast in Grāhi's net. A learned Brāhman must be sought to drive Carnivorous Agni, forth.40From any evil we have done, act of impurity or sin, Let waters purge me and from all that comes from Agni Breaker-up.41By pathways travelled by the Gods these waters, well-knowing, from below have mounted upward. High on the summit of the raining mountain the ancient rivers fresh and new are flowing.42Drive off Carnivorous Agni, thou Agni who eatest not the flesh;. carry oblation paid to Gods.43The Flesh-eater hath entered him: he hath pursued the Flesh- eater. Making two tigers different-wise, I bear away the ungracious one.44He who holds Gods within himself, the rampart and defence of men, Agni, the sacred household fire, hath come and stands between them both.45Prolong the lives of those who live, O Agni, Let the dead go unto world of Fathers. As goodly household fire burn up Arāti; give this man dawn brighter than all the mornings.46Subduing all our adversaries, Agni, give us their food, their strength and their possessions.47Grasp ye this Indra, furtherer, satisfier: he will release you from disgrace and trouble. With him drive back the shaft that flies against you, with him. ward off the missile shot by Rudra.48Seize with firm hold the Ox who boundeth forward: he will uplift you from disgrace and trouble. p. 87 Enter this ship of Savitar; let us flee from poverty over all the six expenses.49Thou followest the day and night, supporting, standing, at peace, promoting, rich in heroes. Long bearing undiseased and happy sleepers, be ours, O Bed, with smell of man about thee,50They sever from the Gods, they live in sin and misery evermore, Those whom from very near at hand Carnivorous Agni casteth down as a horse tramples down the reeds.51The faithless, who from lust of wealth abide with him who feeds on flesh, For ever set upon the fire an alien caldron, not their own.52Forward in spirit would he fly, and often turns he back again, Whomso Carnivorous Agni from anear discovers and torments.53Among tame beasts the black ewe is thy portion, and the bright lead is thine, they say, Flesh-eater! Mashed beans have been assigned thee for oblation go seek the dark wood and the wildernesses.54I sought the rustling sugar-cane, white Seasamum, and cane and reed. I made this Indra's fuel, and the Fire of Yama I removed.55Against the sinking western Sun I set them; each sundered path, knowing my way, I entered. I have warned off the ghosts of the Departed: to these I give the boon of long existence.